ABSTRACT
The diagnostic yield of 101 consecutive percutaneous liver biopsies was assessed. Adequate tissue was obtained in most specimens. Even in the presence of an adequate specimen, other procedures were often necessary to rule out other diagnostic possibilities not explained nor completely ruled out by percutaneous liver biopsy alone. With the current diagnostic procedures available to the clinician which have low morbidity and low mortality, the use of blind percutaneous liver biopsy as an initial diagnostic step in certain types of liver disease should be reassessed.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle/methods , Liver Diseases/pathology , Liver/pathology , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/pathology , Liver Diseases/diagnosis , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/pathology , Liver Neoplasms/pathologySubject(s)
Emphysema/etiology , Intestinal Polyps/surgery , Retroperitoneal Space , Sigmoidoscopy/adverse effects , Colon/surgery , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The diagnostic yield of 101 consecutive percutaneous liver biopsies was assessed. Adequate tissue was obtained in most specimens. Even in the presence of an adequate specimen, other procedures were often necessary to rule out other diagnostic possibilities not explained nor completely ruled out by percutaneous liver biopsy alone. With the current diagnostic procedures available to the clinician which have low morbidity and low mortality, the use of blind percutaneous liver biopsy as an initial diagnostic step in certain types of liver disease should be reassessed.
ABSTRACT
The diagnostic yield of 101 consecutive percutaneous liver biopsies was assessed. Adequate tissue was obtained in most specimens. Even in the presence of an adequate specimen, other procedures were often necessary to rule out other diagnostic possibilities not explained nor completely ruled out by percutaneous liver biopsy alone. With the current diagnostic procedures available to the clinician which have low morbidity and low mortality, the use of blind percutaneous liver biopsy as an initial diagnostic step in certain types of liver disease should be reassessed.
ABSTRACT
THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF A PATIENT WITH UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE INVOLVES THREE STEPS: initial correction of unstable hemodynamics, obtaining the specific diagnosis of the lesion responsible for gastrointestinal blood loss, and therapy directed at the specific bleeding lesion. The current approach to upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is carrying out upper gastrointestinal endoscopy following stabilization of the patient. Although improved morbidity and mortality statistics have been slow to appear, the use of endoscopy permits appropriate therapy directed at the specific lesion. Specific therapeutic measures have been outlined for seven common causes of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The advent of therapeutic endoscopy promises to bring further advances in therapy in the near future.
